Carnival Cruise line has reached out to booked guests for Carnival Sunshine‘s December 18, 2023 sailing date to alert them to an embarkation delay.
The ship is currently finishing a cruise with a day at sea returning to Charleston, South Carolina, but rough weather is impacting her overall speed and the ship’s return will be delayed. This will subsequently delay the next cruise.
Carnival Sunshine Delayed
On Sunday, December 17, 2023, Carnival Sunshine spent the day at sea as the last day of a 4-night roundtrip sailing to the Bahamas from her homeport of Charleston, South Carolina.
Along the way, however, the ship encountered rough weather, the same massive storm system that has impacted more than a dozen different ships not only from Carnival Cruise Line, but also Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Margaritaville at Sea.
Carnival Cruise Line has notified guests on the ship’s next sailing, her Monday, December 18 departure, that the ship will be delayed, which will impact their embarkation.
“The ship is experiencing unfavorable weather as she sails back to Charleston and arrival will be delayed. This will affect your embarkation,”the email explained.“We will continue to monitor the situation and provide you with an update by 8 AM, Monday, December 18. Please do not proceed to the cruise terminal until you receive our final update.”
Guests are advised to sign up for text alerts to get the fastest notification of any changes and updates. The impacted sailing is a 5-night Bahamas itinerary, with calls to Half Moon Cay and Freeport before the ship returns to Charleston on Saturday, December 23.
Carnival Sunshine cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Vincent Doyle / Shutterstock)
“We apologize for this weather-related delay and thank you for your understanding. We will be in touch,”the email concluded.
The extent of the delay is not yet known, and will likely remain unknown through the evening and early nighttime hours as the ship continues to make her way back to Charleston. As of 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, her estimated time of arrival (ETA) into Charleston was 5 p.m. on Monday.
This may seem like an extreme delay, but it is also likely the ship will be able to speed up in the overnight hours as she reaches calmer water and when fewer guests and crew members are moving about the ship. Even a small increase in speed could significantly alter her ETA and minimize the delay.
Ship Has Reduced Speed
Because of the poor weather, Carnival Sunshine has had to reduce sailing speed, which helps reduce wind forces and can keep the ship more stable in rough conditions.
Satellite tracking data on Sunday afternoon indicates the ship is sailing at just 11 knots (13 miles per hour / 20 kilometers per hour), roughly half her maximum speed of 21 knots (24 mph / 39 kph). Carnival Sunshine is currently encountering near gale force winds, as well as rough seas with swells reaching 12-13 feet (3.9 meters).
Carnival Cruise Line Storm (Photo Credit: Ramunas Bruzas / Shutterstock)
While the ship is certainly safe – cruise ships are well able to withstand far more punishing sea conditions – the sailing may be less than comfortable for guests onboard. By reducing speed, the ship’s motion can also be reduced, and her course can be angled slightly to provide as smooth a sailing experience as possible.
Carnival Sunshine, formerly Carnival Destiny until her massive renovation in 2013, is a 102,853-gross-ton vessel, originally built in 1996 – making her the oldest ship in the Carnival fleet. She can welcome 3,002 guests aboard at each sailing, and is also home to 1,150 international crew members.
Multiple ships from multiple cruise lines are heavily impacted by expected severe weather from the Bahamas to South Florida this weekend, with changes ranging from Wednesday, December 13, through Sunday, December 17, 2023 as the weather has developed.
In the interest of guests’ safety and comfort, cruise lines are cancelling ports of call and shifting routes to find the smoothest sailing to take advantage of.
Bad Weather Causing Multiple Itinerary Changes
Rough seas, high swells, and strong winds are causing multiple cruise ships to change itineraries this weekend. Experienced cruise travelers are very familiar with such changes, and ports of call may always be adjusted due to inclement weather that could cause hazardous navigational challenges for docking or make it unsafe for guests to walk along exposed piers or use tender boats.
Depending on the ship’s original itinerary, some changes have been minor, while others are more extensive. In most cases, the ships may instead spend a day at sea, where they can safely ride out poor weather while keeping guests as comfortable as possible.
Each of the following ships has itinerary updates related to this weekend’s expected rough weather.
Sky Princess – December 16 Sailing
Due to the size and strength of the weather system over the Bahamas and Florida, the Sky Princess’s December 16 sailing out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been altered.
The vessel has cancelled its scheduled call to Princess Cays in the Bahamas on December 17. The call to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on December 19 is still expected to go ahead, a letter said to passengers.
Carnival Pride – December 17 Sailing
Carnival Cruise Line has informed guests arriving for their Carnival Pride December 17 departure from Port Tampa Bay that embarkation is delayed by two hours. The Spirit-class ship is still scheduled to visit Cozumel, Belize, and Costa Maya during its six-night voyage.
Carnival Freedom – December 14 Sailing
Carnival Freedom has a major impact on its itinerary due to the severe weather across the region. The ship was unable to safely call at Nassau on December 15 and Princess Cays on December 16.
Instead, the ship added an unscheduled visit to Freeport in the Bahamas, but this did not go to plan as Carnival Pride was also unable to dock there. The vessel is sailing a cruise nowhere until arriving back home to Port Canaveral on December 18. The cruise line is providing a $200 onboard credit per stateroom. More details can be found here.
MSC Meraviglia – December 16 Sailing
The Meraviglia-class cruise ship has a significant itinerary change, which guests were notified about on December 15. With the bad weather conditions impacting Florida and the Bahamas, the cruise line has decided to send the ship up north rather than heading south.
MSC Meraviglia’s December 16 sailing out of New York City was originally scheduled to visit Port Canaveral in Florida, Nassau in the Bahamas, and its private island of Ocean Cay, also in the Bahamas. Instead, the ship is spending an overnight in Boston, along with calls at Portland and St. John in Canada, before returning to the Big Apple on December 23. Our full coverage can be found here.
Allure of the Seas – December 11 Sailing
Royal Caribbean International’s 225,282-gross ton, Oasis-class Allure of the Seas was unable to visit Perfect Day at CocoCay during the current sailing, a 4-night “Bahamas & Perfect Day” cruise that departed Port Canaveral on Monday, December 11. Guests were refunded the port fees and any pre-paid shore excursions for missing the popular destination.
Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas (Photo Credit: Andres Felipe Perez)
Combined with wind from the ship’s movement, gusts near the ship were reported as high as 55 knots (63 miles per hour / 102 kilometers per hour), and the ship’s captain sought shelter between small islands to keep guests more comfortable overnight.
Allure of the Seas arrived back at Port Canaveral on schedule on Friday morning, though it is likely her next itinerary – a 3-night weekend getaway to Nassau and CocoCay, will also be impacted by the poor weather.
Mariner of the Seas – December 14 Sailing
Another Royal Caribbean ship, the 139,863-gross-ton, Voyager-class Mariner of the Seas has shifted her entire weekend itinerary to avoid the stormy seas. The ship departed Port Canaveral on Thursday, December 14, on what was to have been a 4-night “Perfect Day & Bahamas” cruise to CocoCay and Nassau. Instead, guests were notified at embarkation that the original itinerary was no longer possible.
Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz
“We’re terribly sorry for the last-minute change caused by the weather – your safety is our top priority,”the notification read.“Please know being onboard is one of the safest places because we are faster and can move out of the way of any inclement weather.”
Instead of her original schedule, the ship is instead heading to Costa Maya, Mexico. Friday is a day at sea, the ship will be in Costa Maya from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and Sunday will be another day at sea while the ship heads back to Florida for debarkation as planned on Monday, December 18.
Liberty of the Seas – December 11 Sailing
Royal Caribbean’s 155,889-gross-ton, Freedom-class Liberty of the Seas has likewise missed a visit to CocoCay on the current sailing, a 4-night “Bahamas & Perfect Day” cruise that departed Fort Lauderdale on Monday, December 11. The stop in CocoCay was to have been on Wednesday, December 13, but was not possible due to high winds.
Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas (Photo Credit: Debbie Ann Powell / Shutterstock)
The ship returned to Fort Lauderdale on schedule on Friday, December 15, but it is possible the next sailing – a 3-night cruise that is planned to visit Nassau and CocoCay over the weekend – will be severely adjusted. Guests will be notified as soon as plans are confirmed.
Carnival Vista – December 10 Sailing
Carnival Cruise Line’s 133,596-gross-ton Carnival Vista, which was just involved with an at-sea rescue of stranded crew members from a capsized cargo vessel, was forced to skip the scheduled stop in Grand Turk on Thursday, December 14. Instead, the ship enjoyed an extra day at sea on her way back to Port Canaveral.
Photo Credit: SeregaSibTravel / Shutterstock
“There is some very windy weather around the Bahamas and part of the western Caribbean,”said John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador.“Please trust the captain, trust the crew. They will keep you safe, always.”
The ship’s arrival on Saturday, December 16, should not be impacted, but the next sailing – a 6-night Eastern Caribbean sailing with visits to Nassau, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk – may be adjusted with cancellations or reordering the port visits for smoother sailing.
Carnival Venezia – December 10 Sailing
Carnival Venezia is another Carnival cruise ship that has been forced to make an itinerary change due to the bad weather. The scheduled port of call to the cruise line’s private island of Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas on December 15 was cancelled. Passengers currently onboard also report that the ship had a brief power failure shortly after departing Nassau on December 14.
The last day of Norwegian Cruise Line’s 164,998-gross-ton, Breakaway-Plus-class Norwegian Escape‘s current sailing has been turned into a sea day, with the call on Great Stirrup Cay cancelled.
The ship departed Port Canaveral on Saturday, December 9, for an Eastern Caribbean itinerary, visiting the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, and Tortola. Great Stirrup Cay was to have been the final port of call for the sailing, but now the ship is heading straight back to Port Canaveral.
Photo Credit: Mariusz Lopusiewicz / Shutterstock
Guests have been provided $50 of onboard credit as compensation for the missed port. The private island destination is a favorite among cruisers.
Nieuw Amsterdam – December 16 Sailing
One of the most dramatic adjustments for the poor weather is Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam. The ship is scheduled to return to service from a two-week dry dock in Freeport, Bahamas on Saturday, December 16, 2023, just when the worst of the weather is expected to impact South Florida.
Photo Courtesy: Holland America Line
Because of this, the cruise has now been shortened by two days and will not depart until Monday, December 18. Guests are receiving generous compensation for the dramatic adjustment, which includes cancelling most planned ports of call due to the shortened sailing time.
Margaritaville at Sea Paradise – December 15 Sailing
The boutique cruise line Margaritaville at Sea, which operates 2-night sailings to Freeport, Bahamas from Port of Palm Beach, Florida, has completely cancelled the Friday, December 15 departure of its only vessel, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise.
Guests are urged to contact the cruise line directly by phone or email for updates and to rebook their sailing. Since the cruise line is a popular option for quick getaways for drive-in travelers, it should be possible for many travelers to change their plans to a different sailing date.
Stay tuned to Cruise Hive for further updates and itinerary changes as they are confirmed through the weekend.
Carnival Cruise Line has released the New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner menu for 2024, with a wide range of delicious dishes on offer as guests prepare to ring in the new year at sea.
In addition to a special menu just for the New Year’s Eve dinner, guests can also choose from classic favorites and other great starters, entrees, and desserts to celebrate 2024.
New Year’s Eve Menu for Carnival Ships
Carnival Cruise Line outdoes itself with special Main Dining Room holiday menus for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. To bid farewell to 2023 and welcome 2024, the cruise line is offering an amazing selection of mouth-watering dishes for starters, entrees, and desserts across the entire Carnival fleet.
The special New Year’s Eve selections are a tantalizing appetizer of crab and pickled mushrooms with a fennel salad, followed by a selection of entrees: bourbon glazed ham with pear chutney and spiced pomegranate; parmesan crusted chicken with black eye beans, sautéed green beans, and shallot herb beurre blanc; and a cauliflower steak and fritters with beluga lentil ragout with feta cheese.
A special “celebration cake” with a pecan brownie, crispy peanut butter feuillentine, and white chocolate mousse is offered for dessert.
Guests also have other delicious options on the menu as well. For appetizers, a duck confit tart with spinach fondue and dark cherry sauce or spiced pork poppers with granny smith apple relish are just two options, along with a winter vegetable and cannellini beans soup, shrimp cocktail, and different types of salad.
Carnival New Year’s Menu
Entrees are equally appetizing with pan seared sea bass paired with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus; a duet of lamb with beluga lentils and roasted red skin potatoes; and grilled filet mignon with baby carrots and wild mushroom cream sauce. The featured entrée salad is turkey kale salad with dried cranberries, purple potatoes, cherry tomatoes, and a balsamic dijon vinaigrette.
Guests can also order classic Steakhouse Selections for an extra fee, including surf & turf with lobster tail, New York strip steak, or grilled double cut lamb chops with au jus.
If the celebration cake dessert doesn’t sound quite worth celebrating, other dessert options include the classic Carnival melting chocolate cake, a no-added-sugar ricotta cheesecake with spiced cherry sauce, or a triple chocolate cake flavored with hazelnut, Baileys, praline, and truffled chocolate cream. The classic fresh tropical fruit plate, cheese plate, and ice cream selections are also available.
Comparing Holiday Menus
It is important to note that the New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner menu is significantly different than both the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners offered fleetwide.
While the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners can be remarkably similar, those holidays are a month apart and few guests are actually cruising for both holidays. Many travelers, however, opt for back-to-back cruises that can encompass both Christmas and New Year’s, and therefore the cruise line makes a special effort to craft two distinct holiday menus that each celebrate the flavors of the season.
Carnival Cruise Line Dining Room (Photo Credit: gary yim / Shutterstock)
While the Christmas menu tends to incorporate more classic fare – tom turkey, roasted pumpkin soup, eggnog cheesecake – the New Year’s Eve menu is a bit more daring to ring in the new year with festive favorites.
Casual Dining Always Available
Of course, guests can also opt for specialty dining restaurants onboard, or have more casual meals at the Lido Marketplace buffet. Undoubtedly, the Lido buffet dinner on New Year’s Eve will also feature some delicious options, though without the same elegant presentation and atmosphere of the Main Dining Rooms.
Guy’s Burger Joint, Big Chicken, Pizza Pirate, soft-serve ice cream at Swirls, and other casual dining options will also be available (hours may vary), and guests can also partake of room service for more private dining or snacks.
Do you have any favorite dishes to ring in the new year? Share your traditions – oceangoing or otherwise – on the Cruise Hive boards!
Guests aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Freedom have not gotten the 4-night Bahamas weekend getaway they originally booked, thanks to rough weather that has cancelled both of the ship’s planned ports of call, as well as an alternative port that was to have been a replacement option.
Carnival Freedom Cancels All Ports of Call
Carnival Freedom departed Port Canaveral, Florida on Thursday, December 14, 2023 on what was to have been a 4-night Bahamas cruise. Instead, because of high winds and rough seas throughout the Bahamas, the ship has ended up taking a cruise to nowhere.
The original itinerary had the ship visiting Nassau on Friday, December 15, followed by Princess Cays on Saturday, December 16. After a day at sea, the ship will return to Port Canaveral on Monday, December 18.
Guests have been kept updated by the ship’s captain about various itinerary changes as the weather has been continually evaluated.
“In partnership with our Fleet Operations Center, we continue to monitor the weather. We are sorry, once again, for not being able to visit Nassau today,”a notification letter delivered to guests’ cabins on Friday read.
Carnival Freedom In Port Canaveral (Credit: Port Canaveral)
“Regarding [Saturday], adverse conditions, which could make water shuttle operations unsafe, are forecasted for Princess Cays. As a result, we have made the decision to cancel our planned visit and will call on Freeport instead.”
Shore tours purchased through Carnival Cruise Line are being automatically refunded to guests’ onboard accounts.
“Thank you for your understanding. Please continue to enjoy your time on board,”the letter, signed by Captain Mario Imbimbo, concluded.
Replacement Port Also Skipped
Unfortunately, the poor weather also extended to Freeport by Saturday, and satellite tracking data showed that Carnival Freedom was unable to make that visit as well. GPS markers indicate the ship’s next destination is Port Canaveral, scheduled to arrive Monday morning in line with the original itinerary.
This means the ship is now sailing a cruise-to-nowhere, with no ports of call. This is an unusual situation, as cruise lines do make every effort to maintain their original itineraries as closely as possible, or else to substitute alternative ports when necessary.
Carnival Freedom at Port Canaveral (Photo Credit: Peter Titmuss / Shutterstock)
“We are sorry Mother Nature is not cooperating with us this weekend, preventing us from being able to visit a port,”a follow up letter read on Saturday.“We understand the disappointment that comes with these changes, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused.”
All port fees and taxes have been refunded to guests, and Carnival Cruise Line has also given a $200 onboard credit to each stateroom to help compensate for the inconvenience. The credit can be used for drinks, retail shopping, spa packages, photos, and other onboard purchases.
Furthermore, all guests are receiving a 50% future cruise credit based on the cruise fare, to use on another Carnival cruise vacation. The credit must be redeemed by December 31, 2024.
The 110,000-gross-ton Carnival Freedom is a Conquest-class vessel, able to welcome 2,980 passengers aboard when booked at double occupancy, and up to 4,075 travelers when fully booked.
Also onboard are 1,150 international officers and crew members who want to ensure everyone stays safe, comfortable, and has a great cruise vacation even in challenging conditions.
Why Are All the Port Visits Cancelled?
Cancelling all ports of call on a sailing is never an ideal situation, but may be necessary when a bad weather system is as large and widespread and the one impacting the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, and the Bahamas this weekend.
Depending on the exact destination, wind direction, wave height, tidal conditions, and other factors, ports may not be safe for cruise ships to visit. Narrow harbor entrances or tight turning basins may be impossible to navigate if high winds push a ship, and using tender boats to ferry cruise guests ashore at some destinations is likewise impossible.
Photo Credit: A. Kiro / Shutterstock
Even if a ship can dock at a pier safely, the condition of the pier and how much rocking the ship will do while docked also impact whether or not a port visit is possible.
If the ship is rocking too much, the gangways will not be stable and safe for guests or crew members to cross, or the ship’s mooring lines might snap and the vessel could begin to drift.
Similarly, if waves are crashing over a pier, it will not be safe for guests to walk off the cruise ship, and so a port might not be accessible to visitors.
Of course, many shore tours may also be cancelled on stormy days, as local flooding, rain, winds, and otherwise poor conditions may make it impossible to operate the tour safely. With little to do on shore, guests will have a more enjoyable time while remaining safer and more comfortable on the ship out to sea.
Onboard, crew members will work to provide extra activities, more live music, and unique entertainment opportunities so everyone can still have a great time, even without visiting a port of call.
Royal Caribbean International has reached out to guests booked aboard the April 26, 2024 sailing of Allure of the Seas to let them know the cruise has been cancelled. The vessel will still set sail, but is now a full ship charter sailing and not available for guests outside the charter group.
Allure of the Seas Cruise Cancelled
Guests hoping to set sail for a spring weekend getaway on Allure of the Seas are not going to be able to take the cruise they’d planned, as Royal Caribbean International has now notified guests that the ship’s April 26, 2024 sailing has been cancelled for a full ship charter.
“The time and effort you took to plan your cruise is important to us, and we apologize for the inconvenience,”the notification read.
The now-cancelled sailing is a 3-night weekend “Bahamas & Perfect Day” cruise departing Port Canaveral on Friday, April 26 and visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay on Saturday plus Nassau, Bahamas on Sunday, before returning to Florida on Monday, April 29.
These weekend cruises are very popular as quick getaways for many travelers, especially as weekend sailings often mean less need to arrange time off work to enjoy the vacation.
This makes short cruises equally attractive as charter sailings, as they are accessible to many participants and may be easier to fill with charter bookings.
The 225,282-gross-ton Allure of the Seas is an Oasis-class vessel, one of the largest cruise ships in the world. The ship is capable of welcoming 5,484 guests at double occupancy, or up to 6,780 travelers when fully booked with all berths filled.
Compensation Offered
Guests already booked on the cruise are likely being given several options of similar itineraries – either on Allure of the Seas or other Royal Caribbean International ships – to shift their sailing to if they are able to reschedule their travel plans. Typically, onboard credit is offered as an incentive for guests to choose an alternate sailing.
Allure of the Seas at Port Canaveral
Full refunds are also an option because the cancellation is mandated by the cruise line. The refund would be for the cruise fare and any pre-paid amenities, such as Wi-Fi packages, drink packages, specialty dining, shore excursions, spa treatments, or gratuities. All refunds will be returned to the original form of payment, and if guests used a future cruise credit for the booking, that credit will be reinstated.
Likewise, airfare booked through the cruise line will also be automatically refunded.
Guests who have made individual arrangements for airfare, port transfers, or shore excursions will need to contact their independent operators for cancellation or rescheduling options as necessary.
Why Can Charters Cancel a Whole Cruise?
The cancellation for this Allure of the Seas sailing comes as Royal Caribbean International has also cancelled a Freedom of the Seas cruise, also for a charter sailing. Incidentally, the now-cancelled Freedom of the Seas cruise is departing the same date – April 26, 2024 – and is also a 3-night weekend cruise, albeit departing from Miami rather than Port Canaveral.
It is unknown whether the two charter cruises are related, and the chartering party has not been revealed for either one.
Allure of the Seas at Port Canaveral
Charter sailings vary in size and are often themed events around common interests or lifestyles. Music, craft, and fan experience sailings are common, often involving favorite types of music or groups of performers; specific types of crafts; or specific television shows, movies, or brands. Lifestyle cruises might be for LGBTQ+ travelers, church groups, dating companies, AARP members, or other types of lifestyles.
Occasionally, businesses will also charter a cruise either as a networking or professional development event, or else as a reward for employees. Team-building exercises, training sessions, leadership meetings, and similar events may be part of such sailings.
Cruise lines might even arrange their own internal charter events for media or press sailings, family events, or employee appreciation.
Most often, full ship charters are arranged months or even years in advance. While it can be disappointing for guests who have already booked their vacation to have their cruise cancelled, there is still time to arrange for a different getaway.
Royal Caribbean has notified passengers that the Freedom of the Seas April 26, 2024, voyage has been redefined as a private charter, leading to the cancellation for the general public. The cruise line outlined several rebooking alternatives and various compensation to all guests not a part of the charter.
Freedom of the Seas Cruise Cancelled
The April 26, 2024, departure of Freedom of the Seas, a 3-night sailing, has been cancelled. The roundtrip cruise set to embark from Miami to visit Royal Caribbean’s exclusive Perfect Day at Cococay and Nassau in the Bahamas will now proceed exclusively as a charter trip.
Guests impacted by the cancelation have several rebooking and compensation options, including the opportunity to rebook a 3-night sailing to Perfect Day at CocoCay or a combination trip including Nassau. Departures are available from Miami aboard Freedom of the Seas on April 5, April 12, April 19, May 3, and May 10. Options from Fort Lauderdale aboard Liberty of the Seas are also available on April 12 or 19.
The email from Royal Caribbean states, “The time and effort you took to place your cruise is important to us, and we apologize for the inconvenience. Every aspect of your time with us should be enjoyable, so we’ve put together some alternative options that we hope will work for you.”
Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship in the US Virgin Islands (Photo Credit: GagliardiPhotography / Shutterstock)
To encourage guests to consider rebooking, Royal Caribbean is offering a guarantee of the original stateroom category price as either protected or reduced to the current cruise rate fare, whichever is lower, as well as an onboard credit of $50 for Interior, Ocean View, and Balcony staterooms, and $100 for Suites. An additional $25 is offered for each third or more guests to spend onboard.
Flexible Rebooking and Compensation Refund Policies
Royal Caribbean is waiving its non-refundable deposit change fees for guests electing to rebook any other Royal Caribbean International sailing. If the original booking was paid in full and the new itinerary fare rate is lower, RCL will reimburse guests for fare differences.
Additionally, for any non-refundable, pre-purchased transportation changes, such as a flight, rental car, or train ticket, guests can be reimbursed up to $200 for domestic and $400 for international differences.
Freedom of the Seas (Photo Credit: A. Emson / Shutterstock)
Passengers wishing to forgo any rebooking options may receive a full refund for any portion of their cruise, including non-refundable deposits and pre-paid amenities. For travelers who used a Future Cruise Credit, Royal Caribbean will refund any new funds paid above the certificate amount and reinstate the original certificate.
Airfare booked through Royal Caribbean International will automatically be refunded, but any airfare purchased independently will not be provided additional compensation.
Royal Caribbean has set a deadline of January 4, 2024, to decide on a preferred course of action, promising that any refunds will be processed promptly within 14 business days of the decision.
Why the Cancellation?
According to the email sent to booked guests, Royal Caribbean has chartered the entire ship for a private event. Charter sailings like this are typically acquired for corporations or groups to host themed sailings or to convene large gatherings. The extent of a charter varies.
Sometimes, depending on the group size, it involves organizing exclusive events for the group amidst other passengers. However, for the sailing scheduled on April 26, the charter is comprehensive, meaning the entire ship has been reserved for the private use of the chartering party.
This isn’t the first time Royal Caribbean has canceled a cruise for a charter. Most recently, its Explorer of the Seas 7-night voyage from Italy in September 2024 was canceled to accommodate a private charter with additional cancelations, such as Navigator of the Seas‘ 7-night sailing to Mexico from Los Angeles in October 2022 meant to accommodate an Atlantis Events private charter.
Freedom of the Seas, the first Freedom-class ship,is homeported in Miami, and also offers longer Caribbean itineraries. It can accommodate 4,515 guests when fully booked and houses 1,360 international crew members, including charter cruises.
Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam will not be able to sail as scheduled on Saturday, December 16, 2023, due to severe weather expected in South Florida.
To avoid the severe storm, the cruise line has made the difficult call to delay the ship’s embarkation in Fort Lauderdale for two full days, which has dramatically changed the planned itinerary and led to various compensation options for booked guests.
Poor weather expected in South Florida over the weekend is having a dramatic impact on Nieuw Amsterdam, which is currently in dry dock in Freeport, Bahamas, but is scheduled to resume service on Saturday, December 16.
The cruise line has made the difficult decision to delay the ship’s return to service. Holland America Line reached out to booked guests late on Thursday, December 14, with the disappointing news.
“We are writing to advise you that due to adverse weather conditions in the Bahamas and along the coast of Florida, Nieuw Amsterdam will be delayed in returning from her scheduled drydock maintenance,”the notification read.“As a result of this delay, embarkation for your cruise will now take place two days later than originally scheduled, on Monday, December 18, 2023.”
The cruise was originally planned as a 7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary visiting Grand Turk, the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, and Half Moon Cay. Because of the dramatic embarkation change, however, ports of call have been changed and the cruise is no longer an Eastern Caribbean itinerary.
“Due to the delayed start and shortened length of your cruise, we have modified the itinerary, and will no longer call to Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos, Samana, Dominican Republic, or St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.,”the notification explained.
Nieuw Amsterdam in Dry Dock (Photo Credit: MaleeS)
Now, the ship will depart Port Everglades on Monday, December 18, and will spend Tuesday, December 19 at Half Moon Cay from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nieuw Amsterdam will also visit Key West, Florida on Thursday, December 21, also from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday and Friday will both be days at sea, and the ship will return to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, December 23 in line with the original schedule.
“We sincerely apologize for the disruption to the start of your cruise holiday. When we create itineraries, we look forward to taking our guests to the destinations they expect to visit,”the email said.“When unexpected issues occur and we must make the decision to change our itinerary, we share in your disappointment.”
The 86,700-gross-ton Nieuw Amsterdam is a Signature-class ship, able to welcome 2,106 guests aboard at each sailing.
Pre-Cruise Arrangements
Because many travelers may already be in the Fort Lauderdale area ahead of their sailing – always good planning so as not to miss a ship due to flight delays – Holland America Line is offering assistance with hotel stays and other arrangements.
Guests who booked flights or pre-cruise hotel stays through the cruise line will have two nights’ accommodations provided by the cruise line, as flights will not be adjusted and guests will still arrive as if the ship were departing on December 16 rather than December 18.
Travelers who have already made independent hotel arrangements, or those who prefer to book their own hotels in lieu of the cruise line’s arrangements, will receive a $300 (USD) per stateroom, per day onboard credit to help compensate for the unexpected lodging costs.
The cruise line has also recommended several hotels that may have availability for guests to consider, though it might be difficult to secure rooms over the weekend during the holiday season on such short notice.
Compensation Provided
Holland America Line is being very generous with compensation for these dramatic adjustments.
Of course, all pre-paid shore tours for the now-cancelled ports of call are being automatically refunded to guests’ onboard accounts, and in the case of Half Moon Cay, tours will be moved the new visit date if possible or refunded if they cannot be changed.
All guests will also receive a 100% future cruise credit (FCC) of the original cruise fare paid for the 7-night cruise – even though the ship will still be sailing on her shortened, modified itinerary. The credit may be used on any future Holland America Line sailing through December 18, 2025.
Furthermore, all travelers will receive a 25% refund of the original cruise fare back to their original form of payment. Processing times for that refund may vary depending on the policies of individual banking institutions.
The compensation doesn’t end there, however. Once onboard, all passengers will also receive $75 (USD) per person, per day missed “to offset the cost of meals, transportation, and other incidental expenses incurred as a result of this delay.” This totals $150 per person, per day to use for any onboard purchases, including spa treatments, specialty restaurants, retail shopping, drinks, and more.
“Please again accept our sincere apologies for this disruption to your cruise vacation and we thank you for your understanding. We look forward to welcoming you onboard,”the explanation email concluded.
While travelers will understandably be disappointed at the disruption to their cruise, safety is first and foremost the top priority, and Holland America Line is going above and beyond to take care of impacted guests.
Royal Caribbean is quietly changing its ice cream options aboard 13 vessels – specifically, the ships that have already offered Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream will no longer have the brand.
Beginning in mid-December, the brand will be discontinued onboard and a different option offered in its place. What sweet scoops could be in store for Royal Caribbean cruisers?
Ben & Jerry’s Leaving Royal Caribbean Ships
Royal Caribbean International has reached out to travel agents to alert them that the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Shops onboard will be changed to new branding in the coming days, though the cruise line has been vague about the immediate details.
“Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Shop onboard 13 of our ships will be moo-ving out and making way for something sweeter!”the announcement read.
Royal Caribbean has confirmed that the new ice cream shop will be an in-house brand, but has not yet released details on the type of ice cream or whether or not the new offering will be complimentary or an add-on charge. Ben & Jerry’s was always an extra cost, not included in the cruise fare. Prices ranged from $2.50 to $5 (USD).
Now, guests onboard will need to go without Cherry Garcia, Chunky Monkey, and other classic flavors from the popular brand, but who knows what will be in store with the new ice cream parlors.
Depending on the ship class and layout, Ben & Jerry’s has either been separate ice cream parlor venue or available as part of another stand. Those spaces are likely to be rebranded with the cruise line’s new ice cream, rather than being converted into completely different venues.
Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream (Photo Credit: rblfmr)
The exact timing of the rebranding has not been announced, only that it will be complete by the end of 2023. The switch is likely to vary slightly from ship to ship depending on available supplies of ice cream and exactly when the conversion work can be completed with new signage, coloring, menu boards, and other details.
This change follows the quiet removal of the cow-themed staterooms associated with Ben & Jerry’s (the cow’s rear end providing a uniquely obstructed view of the ship’s promenade), as well as the loss of the benefits – free ice cream – of those staterooms.
What Will Replace Ben & Jerry’s?
Royal Caribbean is closely guarding the secret of which type of ice cream may replace Ben & Jerry’s, and all that is currently known is that it will be an in-house brand, rather than another partnership with an ice cream retailer.
There are several possibilities, however. Hand-scooped ice cream similar to Ben & Jerry’s and other popular brands is always an option, or the cruise line could offer soft serve or frozen custard choices. A sundae bar or frozen yogurt mix-your-own would be a fun selection, or more elevated options of gelatos, sorbets, or gourmet flavors would be welcome.
Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream (Photo Credit: Kate33)
It is also possible the ice cream parlor space may be rebranded into a new sweetshop offering more than just ice cream, such as Sugar Beach on the Oasis-class ships, or the new Desserted milkshake bar debuting aboard Icon of the Seas.
Other Ice Cream on Board
Even if guests prefer not to splurge on Ben & Jerry’s, free soft serve ice cream has always been available at Sprinkles or on the pool deck, though the flavors are generally limited to vanilla, chocolate, and maybe strawberry, depending on supplies.
Ice cream is occasionally offered as a dessert either at the Windjammer buffet, or in the main dining rooms, often accompanying other treats. Other frozen treats, such as milkshakes, are also available in different venues.
What type of ice cream would you like to see on Royal Caribbean ships? Share your sweet requests on the Cruise Hive boards!
If you plan to book a cruise vacation on a tight budget, you have probably come across MSC Cruises. While prices vary between cruise lines occasionally, you can almost guarantee that fares through MSC Cruises will be among the cheapest you find during your online search.
While finding a budget-friendly cruise package is intriguing, such an obvious pricing pattern usually has most people wondering why this particular cruise line is so cheap. Most assume that low prices translate to a low-quality cruising experience or that you will travel with a cruise line that cuts all the corners.
Luckily for you, we have all the answers! This guide will explain why MSC Cruises are so cheap. Not only will we explain their rock-bottom pricing, but we will also determine whether or not they represent great value or the type of experience that you are better off avoiding.
Before we look into their pricing, it is worth explaining who MSC Cruises are and where they fit within the cruise industry.
While many assume that a budget-friendly cruise line would need to be a subsidiary of one of the major cruise lines, MSC Cruises is not owned by any major brands. They are one of the largest independent cruise lines in the world, and they are still a family-owned company!
While the company was founded as a shipping and logistics company in 1960, ten years later, in 1970, they purchased and began operating two large-scale cruise ships. In fact, the name MSC Cruises is actually an acronym for Mediterranean Shipping Company.
Since then, the company has expanded into one of the world’s largest cruise lines. Currently, they have over 180,000 full-time members of staff and 760 ships of varying sizes.
The cruising side of the company operates in 100 countries with 22 full-size cruise ships. This number includes one of the most impressive cruise ships in the world – the enormous MSC World America.
So, Why Are MSC Cruises So Cheap?
Now that you have some background about the company, we can get into their unique pricing.
As you will find from any basic pricing search, MSC Cruises tend to be roughly 25% cheaper than prices offered for similar itineraries through other cruise lines.
As you might expect, this is not an accident. MSC Cruises intentionally tries to beat other cruise lines on price, especially as they try to break into the competitive United States market.
To achieve this strategy, MSC Cruises enacted a series of cost-cutting measures on cruise ships departing from the United States. Being the number one budget-friendly option is a massive component of the cruise line’s marketing strategy.
I did some research to see just how MSC Cruises compares to some of the most popular cruise lines. I chose the cheapest option at each cruise line for each itinerary. (Note that the itineraries vary slightly from one cruise line to the next, but I tried to keep them as similar as possible to get a fair comparison.)
A Seven-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Miami
First, let’s look at a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise leaving from Miami, Florida. Aboard the MSC Seascape, you’ll head from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Ocean Cay, MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas, and back to Miami with one day at sea.
This cruise costs $549 per person for the cruise-only fare, with an additional $150 in taxes, fees, and port expenses. MSC also offers a “best value” package that’s $899 per person (with an additional $150 in taxes, fees, and port expenses) and includes an Easy Plus drinks package, a Browse Wi-Fi package, and up to $100 in onboard credit.
Let’s compare that to a similar cruise from Royal Caribbean. This seven-night cruise also leaves from Miami. It also visits Basseterre at St Kitts and Nevis; Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas; Coco Bay, Bahamas, and back to Miami.
MSC Seascape Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)
This cruise has three days at sea with one less stop than the comparable MSC cruise mentioned above and is $1,746 per person, but Royal Caribbean was running a 30% off special when I did this research.
It listed the full price as $2,570 per person for an interior room. Additional taxes, fees, and port expenses were listed as $162.33.
So, for a cruise leaving the same port for seven nights in the same region, there is a huge difference in what you will pay between MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean. Using the figures above, the cheapest you can sail with MSC Cruises is $699; with the upgraded “best value” package, you’d pay $1,049.
With the Royal Caribbean cruise, if you booked during the 30% off special, you’d pay $1,908.33; the full price without the discount would be $2,732.33! If you compare the “best value” option at MSC Cruises to the 30%-off rate at Royal Caribbean, you’d save nearly $860.
A Seven-Night Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral
The “best value” rate for this cruise, which, again, includes an Easy Plus drinks package, a Browse WiFi package, and up to $100 in onboard credit, is $619 per person. The fees for this one are $140, totaling $539 for the lowest price and $759 for the “best value.”
Photo Credit: Solarisys / Shutterstock
Compare this to a similar cruise from Norwegian Cruise Line, also leaving from Port Canaveral, Florida. This cruise stops at Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Amber Cove, Dominican Republic, with two days at sea.
When I did this research, Norwegian Cruise Line was running a big 50% off sale. The sale price was listed as $579 per person, with taxes, fees, and port expenses of $230.23. The regular price was listed as $1,058. So, the cheapest price if you book during the sale would be $809.23; the regular price would be $1,288.23.
If you compare the cheapest MSC Cruise for this trip to the 50% off price at Norwegian Cruise Line, you’ll save $270.23. If you don’t manage to get the 50% special price at Norwegian Cruise Lines, you’ll save $749.23 with the cheapest MSC Cruise rate or $529.23 with the “best value” package.
What About Extras?
This kind of pricing analysis gives you some idea of how much you’ll save booking with MSC Cruises, but there are some other things to consider.
The best rate on MSC Cruise Lines is, in most cases, extremely affordable; it is designated as “cruise only,” which means that nothing else is included. You can pay for everything as you go, including meals and drinks, but some packages are available.
MSC Cruises has multiple drinks packages, including the Easy Package, Easy Plus Package, Premium Extra Package, Alcohol-Free Package, and Minors Package.
The company doesn’t reveal the exact price of these packages until you add them to your cruise, but other research suggests these may cost anywhere from around $60 to $100 a day.
MSC Yacht Club Restaurant
As for Wi-Fi, there are two packages available. These include a Browse package with unlimited data and 24-hour access to browse the web, send and receive emails, and chat on messenger apps.
With the Browse and Stream package, you can also participate in video chats, stream music and video, and live stream on social media.
If you want to travel with MSC Cruises and experience as much luxury as possible, the cruise line also offers the MSC Yacht Club, which includes upgraded rooms, 24/7 butler service, high-speed internet, a premium beverage package, thermal spa access, and more.
The price varies per cruise, but to give you an idea, for the cruise from Miami we covered above (though at a different time of year), the MSC Yacht Club is priced at $2,469 with taxes, fees, and port expenses, making the highest luxury option on MSC Cruises comparable to the lowest price on Royal Caribbean.
While this all makes sense as a strategy to gain a larger market share, it still does not explain how they can remain so cheap.
How Does MSC Cruises Keep Prices So Low?
While the cruise line uses a variety of cost-cutting strategies, most are designed to be unnoticeable for passengers.
Amongst the various strategies they use to keep prices low while maintaining profitability, is to maximize passenger capacity on board their ships. Simply put, having more people on each ship allows them to keep pricing low.
While they still have to abide by domestic and international safety standards when it comes to allowing passengers onboard their cruise ships, the ratio of staff to passengers is unique. They also reduce cabin sizes to accommodate more passengers on each ship.
Cutting payroll costs is one of the most important ways they can slash ticket prices. Where the more luxurious cruise lines have a high ratio of staff to passengers, MSC Cruises reduces this ratio. As mentioned, cabins are also significantly smaller than you would get with a more expensive cruise line.
It is also important to note that not all of the ships that MSC Cruises operates are noticeably cheap. Typically, they reduce prices on their older cruise ships while remaining in line with industry pricing standards on their newest and most impressive vessels.
Finally, the other major component of MSC Cruise’s unique financial strategy is to upsell passengers as much as possible once they are on the ship. Where many other ships include a wide variety of amenities and dining options in the price of passenger tickets, MSC Cruises keeps things fairly bare bones.
This drops the upfront cost of booking a cruise through MSC Cruises, but it can mean passengers have to spend a significant amount of money while on board an MSC Cruises ship, whether it’s the MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seashore, or the MSC Virtuosa.
Do These Cost-Cutting Measures Impact the Passenger Experience?
Yes, the cheaper cruise packages through MSC Cruises will be less luxurious than you might expect if you paid for a pricier option through another cruise line. That said, there are plenty of opportunities to upgrade your experience when traveling with MSC Cruises.
For starters, passengers can choose which package they would like to book. MSC Cruises ranks its passenger packages across various tiers known as MSC Experiences. The lowest tier is where you will find the most budget-friendly options.
These cabins are small and very basic, but prices are low, as you’d expect. The fifth and highest tier is more expensive, but you get a far more impressive cabin, various dining upgrades and included amenities, like Wi-Fi.
Long Island Pool
If you are looking to travel on a low budget, keeping prices to a minimum by taking a smaller cabin and only paying for the dining experiences and amenities you value is a great option.
While it is true that the reduced staff-to-passenger ratio can impact the level of service you receive while you are on an MSC Cruises ship, it is still of a more than acceptable standard when considering the financial savings.
For passengers traveling with MSC Cruises, onboard spending is incredibly flexible, meaning you have countless options. For example, most of their ships offer passengers eight unique Wi-Fi packages, each with their own per-day pricing.
If you want to keep things as cheap as possible, choose the lowest tier of most things. If you want to save money but still enjoy a reasonably luxurious experience, upgrade the things that matter most to you.
Should You Book a Cruise with MSC Cruises?
Whether or not you book with MSC Cruises will depend almost entirely upon your budget and preferences.
The cruise packages are relatively inexpensive, especially compared to the more luxurious cruise lines; however, these lower prices also mean that you will not get some of the same perks as other cruise lines.
You should also anticipate a relatively crowded cruise ship and a small, reasonably basic cabin, whether you’re on the MSC World Europa, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Preziosa, or the MSC Lirica.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you save money on add-ons when traveling with MSC Cruises?
One of the best ways to control your onboard spending is to purchase a package when you book your cruise vacation onboard the MSC Fantasia, MSC Magnifica, MSC Seascape, or MSC Musica, or any MSCship.
Everything from Wi-Fi to drinks packages will be cheaper if you pay for them before you are on the ship. MSC Cruises does this intentionally, as having guests agree to spend more money during the booking process helps them stay profitable.
What are the dining options like onboard an MSC cruise?
While you can still expect many of the same classic cruise ship dining options you would get with any other cruise line, the low-cost cruise ships operated by MSC Cruises have fewer options. Again, this is part of their cost-cutting strategy so they can attract new passengers with rock-bottom cruise fare prices.
By offering less variety, supplying the ship is less expensive. Less variety means less waste and a reduced need for a high number of cooks and specialized chefs. Basically, they try only to offer food items that most passengers will enjoy rather than providing unique and gourmet options.
Do MSC cruise ships look dated?
How the interior and exterior of a cruise ship operated by MSC Cruises looks will depend on the type of vessel. As mentioned, some cruise ships they use are state-of-the-art and feature lavish interiors, while those catering to the budget traveler are far less impressive.
When traveling on one of MSC Cruises’ low-cost ships, you may even notice some of the interior décor looks slightly outdated. This is because they refurbish these ships less frequently than, say, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, or Norwegian Cruise Line.
Again, this is another cost-cutting strategy. Where a typical high-end cruise ship will get refurbished every 3 to 4 years, these low-cost vessels only get refurbished once every seven years!
Final Words
While many people associate MSC Cruises with low prices and poor quality, the truth is much more nuanced. MSC Cruises did not become one of the largest cruise lines in the world by offering a bad passenger experience.
Instead, they cut costs in the least noticeable ways possible so those on tighter budgets can still experience the same thrill of traversing open water on a modern cruise ship.
The cruise line also operates some of the most sophisticated and impressive vessels in the world; they just don’t appear at the bottom of any pricing list.
